lovers' oath. | claude de alger obelia

XI | Onsra

Right now you were at the Imperial Palace, dining with the Empress who seemed to be happy with your presence. She promised that she'll let you see the boys after your leisure with her.

Despite the numerous allegations from how you saw the story in the reader's viewpoint from the manhwa, the Empress you see greatly differs from how you were with the woman in front of you. Even with her commanding and prideful actions of being an Imperial Majesty, she knows how to separate it from her own life as she did say that 'work differs greatly from personal, you command people but the feelings and time with your family weigh more than the trivial problems of life.'

She was decent. She may be an Empress but she is a mother who cares deeply for her children. The same goes for the Emperor albeit a bit busier than the Empress.

You wondered how she set her own downfall from the story of the manhwa.

And you would be lying if you say that you didn't grow attached to her or the Emperor.

"Have you read the scriptures and the scrolls I sent to your estate, dear?"

After munching down your macaron, you gave her a bright smile, a genuine one as you harbor no hate for this woman.

"I did Auntie! Thank you for sending the scrolls for my studies, I greatly appreciate your help."

"Don't be so tight-lipped you little miss, I wish for you to study well so you can guide my boys when they ascend the Imperial hierarchy," she gave you a soft smile, "And you know how men and boy are when they come of age, they tend to get reckless and headstrong."

You couldn't agree more.

After discussing and just chatting leisurely with each other, she was then called to attend a meeting that required her assistance leaving you to go with her sons in the gardens. You got the privilege of walking through the halls of the palace and staying in it as per your father's orders after Anastasius asked him if you can go back and forth to the palace anytime you please. Kalist agreed only if you've done your studies and training (which wasn't so secret since your butler requested it) Aslan planned out for you.

As you near the entrance to the gardens you heard the maids chatting amongst themselves of Anastasius coming-of-age ceremony which was drawing near followed by the praises of Claude's newly discovered mana that "seems to overpower that of the Emperor's".

You remembered the conversation you had at the dining table with the Imperial family not too long back as you discussed the future plans of the Empire. The Empress brought up Claude's newfound power and they all seem to marvel at it, and they seemed to not hold any grimace or disgust in their aura. Anastasius as well.

Even though their actions were positive, you didn't miss out on the flash of fear that passed through the eldest's eyes.

The two were already waiting by you in the secluded garden the three of you kept. There seemed to be more flowers over the place than the blue roses, a variety of lilacs, yellow hyacinths to osmanthus flowers. Speaking of, you suddenly smell the fragrance of tea made from the osmanthus flowers as well. The smell wafted the area with its flowery fragrance, giving in a nice touch to the setting around you.

Claude caught sight of you first as he called your name before beckoning you to the picnic mat that was placed below them.

"You two came prepared," you smiled before taking a seat between the two.

Anastacius smiled before handing you a teacup, and to prove your suspicions it was osmanthus tea that you caught on earlier. You thanked before taking the cup gingerly on your hands before taking a sip of the tea as you listened in to the sound of nature around you.

The two brothers couldn't help but smile wider at your relaxed expression as it also sets them at ease. Claude then took out a book — it must be the one that he couldn't help but tell you about, one that was filled with numerous spells. It must be the one that Anastacius gave him after teaching him the basics of using his mana.

"Is Claude still skipping his classes?"

Anastacius could only give out a chuckle before ruffling his brother's hair, "He does quite a lot, I don't blame him though we use the time to spend with each other while waiting for you."

You could only blush at his words, and the same goes with Claude who buried his face into the book to hide the blush spreading across his cheeks. The elder was flustered too but he didn't seem to show it albeit the tips of his ears are red.

"Claude, you shouldn't do that.." You chastised him softly to which the other only nodded.

"But the tutors are intimidating.." Claude whined, his eyes begging his older brother to back him up.

"Aunt and Uncle with get mad—"

"Big brother does it sometimes," you set Anastacius a pointed look to which he grimaced at.

"He's bad influence then." A noise of protest came from the boy behind you.

The three of you then proceeded to chat about the events of your day, bringing up how the palace buzzes with busy workers as they prepared for Anastasius's coming of age ceremony. The elder was obviously excited, as he would be announced as the next heir in line to be an Emperor then grumbled after you told him that he will sign papers and spend less leisure time with you and Claude as usual.

As the two of you kept on bantering, Claude stared at you with a soft look on his face. He couldn't help but find himself lucky to be friends with a person who accepted the two of them truly and thought of them no differently as a person who only holds a position that was labeled upon them.

Though he may be sometimes get shunned by people because of his name and status in the Imperial family, what only matters is how you and his adopted parents took him in as a friend and as family. Truly he was grateful for you and his brother.

Back then he feared you treating him as someone above or below yourself, but after proving that you held no underlying motives in your actions, he began to trust you and care for you deeply — he could say the same to his brother, but to him, it was everything he could've asked for.

Despite his real mother being bedridden for god knows how long, he took comfort in your presence and he relishes in it as it is enough to set his problems to ease. Security, ease, everything along those lines was enough. Then it clicked to him, you gave the aura of home. Home. It was something he sought and now he knew it is now here.

And he wouldn't trade it for the world.

Anastacius caught onto Claude's look and rose a brow before nudging you to look at his younger brother who seemed to be deep in thought, "Hey, Claude. You okay?"

That seemed to snap the younger of his thoughts before giving you two a smile, "Yes, I am. Just thinking about if I'll be like An someday."

The elder playfully punched his shoulder before reprimanding him on how the nickname sounds feminine to which Claude only laughed at. You now stared at the two with a smile on your face, glad that the two were getting along well. But it was then replaced by a feeling of dread.

You knew it wouldn't stay like this for a long time if only eternity exist, you wished. So you set it upon yourself to keep this image for a long time and you would do anything to keep what you have safe. Even if your defenses are futile, the determination and will you have to save this world is now set in stone.

You just have to prepare yourself for the events that will soon follow. As in light, there is always a shadow.

And you would do everything you can to not let darkness overpower everything you worked hard on.

" though we cannot be
together for so long.
your presence was
the best feeling I've
felt in my life. "